Media Release
14 September 2023
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) welcomes the announcement from the New South Wales Government, which provides more than $100 million to our sector through the Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund.
The funding provides important investment to support our workforce, and improve access and affordability to early learning and care for NSW families, including:
- $64 million, over 2 years, in fee relief: $500 per child, per year for parents of three year-olds in long day care preschool programs
- $22 million, over 5 years, to recruit and retain our early learning workforce, including professional development and scholarships for tertiary education to upskill our staff
- $20 million for the Flexible Initiatives Trial, to expand access to early learning and care, extended hours and assisting parents returning to work
- $20 million capital funding for new not-for-profit services in targeted communities, including high-growth and regional settings.
ELACCA CEO Elizabeth Death commended the Minns Government on their investment though the Fund: “These are targeted, practical initiatives that invest in our workforce at a time when it is much needed.”
“With the support of the NSW Government, ELACCA is currently partnering with the University of Wollongong through the delivery of an innovative, co-designed accelerated degree to uplift and retain our existing workforce” Ms Death said.
“We look forward to continuing to work closely with the NSW Government and Department of Education to develop and implement practical solutions to recruit, retain and uplift our early childhood educators and teachers”.
“Access to affordable, quality early learning and care, delivered by a qualified and valued workforce is the key to providing all NSW children with the best start in life”, Ms Death said.
These reforms will help ELACCA progress its objective to lead exceptional early learning outcomes for Australian children, and aspire to:
- progress the quality of early learning and care and outcomes for all children.
- enhance the development and professionalisation of the early learning workforce.
- improve equity of access to early learning for all children.
Ends.
For more information please contact:
Sally Maddison
Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA)
PO Box 348
Annandale NSW 2038
Mob: 0498 228 762
About us:
The Early Learning and Care Council of Australia (ELACCA) was established to promote the value of quality early learning and care as an integral part of Australia’s education system.
Our 19 CEO members include some of the largest early learning providers in the country, representing both not-for-profit and for-profit services. ELACCA members operate 1,984 long day care services, 310 preschool/kindergarten services and 92 OSHC services, covering every state and territory. They offer one-quarter of all the long day care places in Australia. Together, our members serve 369,776 children and their families, and employ more than 56,708 staff.
As well as promoting the value of quality early learning and the need for greater public investment, ELACCA advocates for the right of all children to access quality early learning and care, particularly children facing disadvantage. We do this by drawing on the knowledge and practical experience of our members and representing their views to decision makers in government, the media and the public.
